Belt wrapper



April 25, 1967 R. A. JONES 3,315,510

} BELT WRAPPER Filed April 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.5.

INVENTOR Robert A. Jones R. A. JONES BELT WRAPPER April 25, 1967 Filed April 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llb INVENTOR Robert A. Jones United States Patent 3,315,510 BELT WRAPPER Robert A. Jones, Warren, Ohio, assignor to The Wean Engineering Company, Inc., Warren, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 360,325 15 Claims. (Cl. 72-148) This invention relates to a belt wrapper for confining strip material fed to a coiling mandrel to form a coil. Belt wrappers are commonly used in coiling steel strip but are of general utility in the coiling of flat strip material.

As a strip moves from a processing station or line to a coiler it may be desired to coil the strip with a particular one of its two flat faces outwardly of the coil. For example, when coated strip having a heavier coating on one side than on the other side is to be delivered in coils by a steel maker or processor to a customer the customer may specify that the side having the heavier coating shall be disposed toward the inside of the coil or toward the outside of the coil, depending upon the particular use to which the coil is to be put and the facilities employed by the customer.

Heretofore belt wrappers have been designed for use with strip being coiled in one direction only. For example, a belt wrapper may have been designed for use in forming a coil by overwinding only, i.e., by forming a coil to which the strip is fed atop the coil, the strip then passing downwardly around the coil being formed. This results in the upper face of the strip being at the outside of the coil. If it should be desired to coil the strip with the upper face at the inside of the coil without inverting the strip as fed to the coiler it would be necessary to deliver the strip underneath the coil and thence up around the coil being formed. But according to prior practice this would have required the substitution of avdiiferent belt wrapper, i.e., a belt wrapper adapted for use in forming an underwound coil.

I have devised a belt wrapper which may be employed selectively in forming an overwound coil or an underwound coil. My belt wrapper is preferably made generally symmetrical and its elements are adaptable at the will of the operator selectively for receiving a coil passing first atop the coiling mandrel and then down around the coiling mandrel and for receiving a coil passing first beneath the coiling mandrel and then up around the coiling mandrel. Thus at any time a strip fed to a coiler equipped with my belt wrapper may be coiled by overwinding or by underwinding as may be desired at the moment, no substitution of a different belt wrapper or alteration of the belt wrapper setup being required. The belt wrapper is adapted selectively for overwinding and underwinding simply by the operation of built-in controls.

I provide a belt wrapper comprising a frame, spaced apart parallel pivots carried by the frame, two arms respectively pivotally carried by the pivots, one arm by each pivot, each arm being swingable about the pivot carrying it between a first position in which the arm extends generally away from the other pivot and a second position in which the arm extends generally toward the other pivot, two first belt guiding rollers, one carried by each arm at a portion thereof spaced from its pivot, two second belt guiding rollers respectively in the regions of the pivots, a take-up roller and an endless belt disposed about the take-up roller and passing from the take-up roller inside the second belt guiding rollers and thence to and about the first belt guiding rollers so that when either of the arms is in its first position the corresponding second belt guiding roller deflects the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller and when either of the arms is in its second position the corresponding pivot deflects the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller, the pivots, arms and belt guiding rollers being substantially symmetrically arranged so that the belt wrapper may be used selectively to form an overwound or an underwound coil whose axis substantially intersects the axis of symmetry of the belt wrapper with a selected one of the arms in its first position and the other arm in its second position at the beginning of formation of the coil, the last mentioned arm progressively moving toward its first position during formation of the coil. The belt wrapper has means for resiliently urging the last mentioned arm toward the coil being formed and means maintaining the other arm in its first position during forming of the coil. Each of the arms preferably has at its extremity a guide for the material being coiled protecting the portion of the belt passing about the first belt guiding roller on that arm from contact with the material being coiled.

I preferably provide third belt guiding rollers mounted on the pivots and each of which deflects the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller when the corresponding arm is in its second position. The second belt guiding rollers are desirably mounted respectively on the arms near the pivots with each thereof disposed to move out of belt deflecting posi tion as the corresponding arm moves from its first to its second position.

The frame of the belt wrapper is preferably mounted for retractive movement under the action of the coil being formed and yieldably urged toward the coil being formed. Each third belt guiding roller is preferably disposed to deflect the belt between the corresponding first belt guiding roller and the coil being formed when the corresponding arm is in the first position and to deflect the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller when the corresponding arm is in the second position.

I provide means carried by the frame for urging the take-up roller in a direction to tension the belt and also means carried by the frame for turning the arms about their pivots. The means for turning the arms about their pivots preferably include piston and cylinder means; and in a preferred form of belt wrapper gear means are interposed between the piston and cylinder means and the arms.

A perennial problem in the use of belt wrappers is difficulty in obtaining proper tracking of the belt. The belt has a tendency to shift sidewise out of proper centered relationship to the belt guiding rollers and the strip being coiled. I have solved the problem by providing the belt with a projection extending lengthwise of the belt project ing therefrom at the face of the belt remote from being formed, the belt guiding rollers engaging the face of the belt remote from the coil being formed being grooved to receive the projection on the belt to insure proper tracking of the belt. Preferably the projection on the belt is tapered to smaller transverse dimension in the direction from the belt outward and the grooves in the rollers are tapered to smaller transverse dimension in the direction from the surfaces of the rollers inward to fit the projection on the belt. The belt and the projection are preferably of vulcanizable material and the projection is preferably vulcanized to the belt. The projection is de sirably disposed substantially along the center line of the belt, midway between the side edges of the belt.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which the coil the mounting means for the belt wrapper and the coiling mandrel and its supporting mechanism being omitted for the sake of clarity of showing of the elements of the belt wrapper per se;

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevational view of my belt wrapper with the elements thereof in a position for forming an underwound coil, the mounting means for the belt wrapper and the coiling mandrel and its supporting mechanism being indicated by chain lines; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the belt wrapper as shown in FIGURE 2 as viewed from the right hand side of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view to show the means for insuring proper tracking of the belt;

and

FIGURE 5 is a diagram showing the fluid pressure control system for the belt wrapper.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the frame of the belt wrapper is designated generally by reference numeral 2 and is fixed to a horizontal shaft 3 which is adapted to be turned by a piston in a cylinder 4. The shaft 3 is journaled in a stationary supporting structure 11 having spaced apart parallel vertical plates 11a to which are fixed downward extensions 11b. Trunnioned in the downward extensions 11b at 6 is a supporting frame 6a which carries the cylinder 4. Thus the cylinder can turn about the axis of the trunnions 6 as indicated in FIG- URE 2. The piston in the cylinder 4 has a connecting rod 5. Links 7 and 8 are pivoted to the connecting rod 5 at 9. Each link 7 is pivoted at 10 to the stationary supporting structure 11. Each link 8 is pivoted at 12 to an arm 13 fixed to'the shaft 3.

In FIGURE 2 the piston in the cylinder 4 is near the bottom of its stroke and the frame has been swung to its extreme left hand position viewing the figure. That is the position occupied by the frame at the beginning of the formation of a coil. As the coil grows in diameter the frame swings toward the right viewing FIGURE 2 about the axis of the shaft 3 until a coil of desired size has been formed, whereupon the frame is moved by the piston in the cylinder 4 to its extreme position indicated by chain lines in FIGURE 2 at which time the piston in the cylinder 4 is at the top of its stroke with the linkage for swinging the frame 2 correspondingly raised to the position indicated in chain lines.

The frame 2 carries spaced apart parallel pivot pins 14 and 15. Two arms 16 and 17 are respectively carried by and fixed to the pivot pins, the arm 16 being carried by and fixed to the pivot pin 14 and the arm 17 being carried by and fixed to the pivot pin 15. Each arm is swingable about the axis of the pivot pin carrying it between a first 1 position in which the arm extends generally away from the other pivot pin and a second position in which the arm extends generally toward the other pivot pin. In FIG- URE 1 the arms 16 and 17 are both shown in the first position. In FIGURE 2 the arm 16 is shown in the second position while the arm 17 is shown in the first position.

.I provide'two first belt guiding rollers 18 and 19, respectively, one carried by each of the arms 16 and 17 at a portion thereof spaced from its pivot. The belt guiding roller 18 is carried by the arm 16 at its outer extremity and the belt guiding roller 19 is carried by the arm 17 at its outer extremity. Two second belt guiding rollers 20 and 21 are provided respectively in the regions of the pivot pins-14and 15. In the structure shown the arm 16 has a lateral projection 22 adjacent the pivot 14 and the second belt guiding roller 20 is carried by the lateral projection 22, being mounted for rotation upon a pin 23 carried by the lateral projection 22, and the arm 17 has a lateral projection 24 adjacent the pivot 15 and the second belt guiding roller 21 is carried by the lateral projection 24, 7

being mounted for rotation upon a pin 25 carried by the lateral projection 24. A take-up roller 26 is provided, that roller being mounted for rotation upon a pin 27 carried by the outer end of an arm 28 fixed at its inner end to a shaft 29 journaled in the frame 2, to which shaft is also fixed an arm 30 having a piston rod 31 pivoted thereto at 32. The piston rod 31 carries a piston 33 operating in a cylinder 34 which is pivotally mounted at 35 to the frame 2.

Pivotally mounted on the frame 2 at 36 is a cylinder 37 in which operates a piston having a piston rod 38 pivoted at 39 to an arm 40 fixed to a shaft 41 journaled in the frame 2, to which shaft is also fixed a gear segment 42. The gear segment 42 meshes with a pinion 43 fixed to the pivot pin 14 to whichthe arm 16 is fixed as above described. Consequently movement of the piston in the cylinder 37 causes swinging of the arm 16. In FIGURE 2 the piston in the cylinder 37 is near the bottom of its stroke and the arm 16 is in the second position as above explained. When the piston in the cylinder 37 is moved upwardly the arm 16 is swung clockwise about the axis of the pivot pin 14 from the second position in which it is shown in FIGURE 2 to the first position in which it is shown in FIGURE 1.

Pivotally mounted on the frame 2 at 44 is a cylinder 45 in which operates a piston having a piston rod 46 pivoted at 47 to an arm 48 fixed to a shaft 49 journaled in the frame 2, to which shaft is also fixed a gear segment 50. The gear segment 50 meshes with a pinion 51 fixed to the pivot pin 15 to which the arm 17 is fixed as above described. Consequently movement ofthe piston in the cylinder 45 causes swinging of the arm 17. In FIGURE 1 the piston in the cylinder 45 is at the bottom of its. stroke and the arm 17 is in the first position as above explained. When the piston in the cylinder 45 is moved upwardly the arm 17 is swung clockwise about the axis of the pivot pin 15 from the first position in which it is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to the second position in which it extends generally toward the pivot pin 14. The drawings do not show the second position of the arm 17 but it is to be understood that the second position of the arm 17 is exactly similar to the second position of the arm 16 as shown'in FIGURE 2, i.e., the arm 17 in its second position extends generally toward the pivot pin 14.

I provide an endless belt 52 disposed about the take-up roller 26 and passing from the take-up roller 26 inside the second belt guiding rollers 20 and 21 and thence to and about the first belt guiding rollers 18 and 19 so that when either of the arms 16 and 17 is in its first position the corresponding second belt guiding roller 20 or 21 as the case may be deflects the belt between the take-up roller 26 and such first belt guiding roller and when either of the arms is in its second position the corresponding pivot 14 or 15 as the. case may be deflects the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller. I mount third belt guiding rollers 53 and 54 for free rotation upon the pivot pins 14 and 15 respectively against which the endless belt 52 may ride as shown as the endless belt is shown riding against the third belt guiding roller 53 in FIGURE 2. When the belt wrapper is in the position of FIGURE 1 the long generally vertical reach of the endless belt 52 at the left of that figure may be substantially straight and'may touch the third belt guiding rollers 53 and 54. During formation of a coil the coil presses the long vertical reach of the endless belt 52 toward the right viewing FIGURES 1 and 2 pressing the belt against the third belt guiding rollers 53 and 54 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The take-uproller 26 is yieldably urged toward the right viewing FIGURE 1 by fluid under pressure below the piston 33 in the cylinder 34 which permits movement of the take-up roller 26 to the left viewing FIGURES 1 and 2 as required during formation of the coil while maintaining the belt taut.

During the formation of an underwound coil the arm I 17 remains in the position shown in FIGURE 2 through- .out formation of the coil while the arm 16 assumes the position shown in FIGURE 2 at the beginning of the formation of the coil. During formation of the coil the arm 16 is resiliently urged toward the mandrel 55 by fluid under pressure above the piston in the cylinder 37 which permits the arm 16 to turn in the clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot pin 14 as the diameter of the coil increases. The belt wrapper operates in exactly the same manner for the formation of an overwound coil except that at the beginning of the formation of the coil the arm 17 is disposed in the second position and the arm 16 is disposed in the first position throughout the entire formation of the coil. As the diameter of the coil increases the arm 17 is gradually turned in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of the pivot pin 15.

To insure proper tracking of the belt the belt is provided with a projection 56 (see FIGURE 4) extending lengthwise of the belt projecting therefrom at the face of the belt remote from the coil being formed, the belt guiding rollers engaging the face of the belt remote from the coil being formed being grooved to receive the projection on the belt to insure proper tracking of the belt. In FIG- URE 4 I have shown by way of example a fragment of the take-up roller 26 which is grooved at 57 to receive the belt projection 56. As shown in FIGURE 4 the belt projection 56 is preferably tapered to smaller transverse dimension in the direction from the belt outward and the grooves in the rollers are tapered to smaller transverse dimension in the direction from the surfaces of the rollers inward to fit the projection on the belt as shown in the case of the take-up roller 26 in FIGURE 4. The belt 52 and projection 56 are preferably of vulcanizable material such, for example, as natural or synthetic rubber or a rubber compound or substitute or a vulcanizable synthetic material so that the projection can be vulcanized to the belt. The projection is preferably disposed substantially along the center line of the belt, midway between the side edges of the belt, and the grooves in the rollers are conformably positioned.

FIGURE 5 is a diagram showing the fluid pressure control system for the belt wrapper. The system illustrated is a compressed air system. Compressed air at suitable pressure (preferably at a minimum pressure of sixty pounds per square inch) is supplied through a pipe 58 and passes through a pressure regulator 59 and a relief valve 60 to the cylinder 34 at the rod end thereof whereby the take-up roller 26 is urged into belt tensioning position under substantially constant pressure regardless of its position. The relief valve 60 permits bleeding of air when the piston 33 is forced toward the rod end of the cylinder 34.

Compressed air passes through a pressure regulator 61 through a four-way valve 62 to the cylinder 4. By operation of the four-way valve 62 the piston in the cylinder 4 may be moved in either direction at will.

Compressed air passes through a pressure regulator 63 through a four-way valve 64 to the cylinder 37. By operation of the four-way valve 64 the piston in the cylinder 37 may be moved in either direction at will.

Compressed air passes through a pressure regulator 65 through a four-way valve 66 to the cylinder 45. By operation of the four-way valve 66 the piston in the cylinder 45 may be moved in either direction at will.

During coil formation the frame 2 is resiliently urged toward the left viewing FIGURE 2 and as the diameter of the coil increases the operator permits the frame 2 to swing toward the right under the pressure exerted by the coil. This is accompanied by movement of the arm 16 or 17 as the case may be from its initial second position at the beginning of coil formation toward its first position as the diameter of the coil increases. As stated above, as the coil grows in diameter the frame 2 swings toward the right viewing FIGURE 2 about the axis of the shaft 3 until a coil of desired size has been formed, whereupon the frame is moved by the piston in the cylinder 4 to its extreme position indicated by chain lines in FIGURE 2 at which time the piston in the cylinder 4 is at the top of its stroke with the linkage for swinging the frame 2 correspondingly raised to the position indicated in chain lines. The arms 16 and 17 are controlled by the four-way valves 64 and 66, respectively.

FIGURE 2 shows in chain lines at 67 the mounting means or stand for the coiling mandrel. The coiling mandrel and its mounting means may be conventional.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A belt wrapper comprising a frame, spaced apart parallel pivots carried by the frame, two arms respective ly pivotally carried by the pivots, one arm by each pivot, each arm being swingable about the pivot carrying it between a first position in which the arm extends generally. away from the other pivot and a second position in which the arm extends generally toward the other pivot, two first belt guiding rollers, one carried by each arm at a portion thereof spaced from its pivot, two second belt guiding rollers respectively in the regions of the pivots, a take-up roller and an endless belt disposed about the take-up roller and passing from the take-up roller inside the second belt guiding rollers and thence to and about the first belt guiding rollers so that when either of the arms is in its first position the corresponding sec ond belt guiding roller reflects the belt between the takeup roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller and when either of the arms is in its second position the corresponding pivot deflects the belt between the takeup roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller, the pivots, arms and belt guiding rollers being substantially symmetrically arranged so that the belt wrapper may be used selectively to form an overwound or an underwound coil whose axis substantially intersects the axis of symmetry of the belt wrapper with a selected one of the arms in its first position and the other arm in its second position at the beginning of formation of the coil, the last mentioned arm progressively moving toward its first position during formation of the coil.

2. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 having means for resiliently urging the last mentioned arm toward the coil being formed and means maintaining the other arm in its first position during formation of the coil.

3. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which each of the arms has at its extremity a guide for the material being coiled protecting the portion of the belt passing about the first belt guiding roller on that arm from contact with the material being coiled.

4. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which third belt guiding rollers are mounted on the pivots and each of which deflects the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller when the corresponding arm is in its second position.

5. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which the second belt guiding rollers are mounted respectively on the arms near the pivots and each thereof is disposed to move out of belt deflecting position as the corresponding arm moves from its first to its second position.

6. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which the second belt guiding rollers are mounted respectively on the arms near the pivots and each thereof is disposed to move out of belt deflecting position as the corresponding arm moves from its first to its second .position and third belt guiding rollers are mounted on the pivots and each of which deflects the belt between the take-up roller and the corresponding first belt guiding roller when the corresponding arm is in its second position.

7. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which the frame is mounted for retractive movement under the action of the coil being formed and is yieldably urged toward the coil being formed.

'8. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which a I third belt guiding roller is disposed to deflect the belt roller when the corresponding arm is in the second position.

9. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided which are carried by the frame for urging the take-up roller in a direction to tension the belt.

-10. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim '1 in which means are provided which are carried by the frame for turning the arms about their pivots.

11. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 10 in which the means for turning the arms about their pivots include piston and cylinder means.

12. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 11 in which means including gear means are interposed between the piston and cylinder means and the arms.

13. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 1 in which the belt has a projection extending lengthwise of the from the coil being formed, the belt guiding rollers engaging the face of the belt remote from the coil being formed being grooved to receive the projection on the belt to insure proper tracking of the belt.

14. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 13 in which the projection on the belt is tapered -to smaller transverse dimension in the direction from the belt outward and the grooves in the rollers are tapered to smaller transverse dimension in the direction from the surface of the rollers inward to fit the projection on the belt.

15. A belt wrapper as claimed in claim 14 in which the belt and the projection are of vulcanizable material and the projection is vulcanized to the 'belt and the projection is disposed substantially along the center line of the belt, midway between the side edges of the belt.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 207,626 9/1878 Sargent l98202 2,262,160 11/1941 Beard et al. 72- 148 2,357,157 8/1944 Wood 7'2-.--l48 2,890,003 6/1959 Jones 72l48 2,981,493 4/1961 Maximilian 72-148 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. belt pro ecting therefrom at the face of the belt remote 25 A. L. HAVIS, R. J. HERBST, Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,315,510 April 25, 1967 Robert A. Jones at error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified th that the said Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 and 4, for "assignor to The Wean Engineering Company, Inc., Warren, Ohi read assignor to Wean Industries, Inc., column 6, line 32 for "reflects" read deflects Signed and sealed this 14th day of November 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A BELT WRAPPER COMPRISING A FRAME, SPACED APART PARALLEL PIVOTS CARRIED BY THE FRAME, TWO ARMS RESPECTIVELY PIVOTALLY CARRIED BY THE PIVOTS, ONE ARM BY EACH PIVOT, EACH ARM BEING SWINGABLE ABOUT THE PIVOT CARRYING IT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH THE ARM EXTENDS GENERALLY AWAY FROM THE OTHER PIVOT AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE ARM EXTENDS GENERALLY TOWARD THE OTHER PIVOT, TWO FIRST BELT GUIDING ROLLERS, ONE CARRIED BY EACH ARM AT A PORTION THEREOF SPACED FROM ITS PIVOT, TWO SECOND BELT GUIDING ROLLERS RESPECTIVELY IN THE REGIONS OF THE PIVOTS, A TAKE-UP ROLLER AND AN ENDLESS BELT DISPOSED ABOUT THE TAKE-UP ROLLER AND PASSING FROM THE TAKE-UP ROLLER INSIDE THE SECOND BELT GUIDING ROLLERS AND THENCE TO AND ABOUT THE FIRST BELT GUIDING ROLLERS SO THAT WHEN EITHER OF THE ARMS IS IN ITS FIRST POSITION THE CORRESPONDING SECOND BELT GUIDING ROLLER REFLECTS THE BELT BETWEEN THE TAKEUP ROLLER AND THE CORRESPONDING FIRST BELT GUIDING ROLLER AND WHEN EITHER OF THE ARMS IS IN ITS SECOND POSITION THE CORRESPONDING PIVOT DEFLECTS THE BELT BETWEEN THE TAKEUP ROLLER AND THE CORRESPONDING FIRST BELT GUIDING ROLLER, THE PIVOTS, ARMS AND BELT GUIDING ROLLERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SYMMETRICALLY ARRANGED SO THAT THE BELT WRAPPER MAY BE USED SELECTIVELY TO FORM AN OVERWOUND OR AN UNDERWOUND COIL WHOSE AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY INTERSECTS THE AXIS OF SYMMETRY OF THE BELT WRAPPER WITH A SELECTED ONE OF THE ARMS IN ITS FIRST POSITION AND THE OTHER ARM IN ITS SECOND POSITION AT THE BEGINNING OF FORMATION OF THE COIL, THE LAST MENTIONED ARM PROGRESSIVELY MOVING TOWARD ITS FIRST POSITION DURING FORMATION OF THE COIL. 